The weekly shootouts in the Big 12 emerged as the major storyline in college football, so it should come as no surprise that offensive playmakers from that conference dominate the Rivals.com All-America team.

Big 12 players make up half the first-team offense and nearly half of the second-team offense. The Big 12 ended up with 13 All-Americans on offense, three on defense and two on special teams to tie the SEC with 18 overall selections on our three-deep squad.

The Tide was closely followed by the two representatives in the BCS Championship Game.

Florida had five overall selections, including three first-teamers: all-purpose player Percy Harvin, linebacker Brandon Spikes and punt returner Brandon James. Oklahoma had four All-Americans, and they all made the first team: Bradford, Gresham, guard Duke Robinson and defensive tackle Gerald McCoy.

Particulars: 6-4/218, Soph.
High school: Oklahoma City Putnam City North
Key stats: Bradford went 302-of-432 passing for 4,464 yards with 48 touchdown passes and six interceptions while directing an offense that compiled 702 points and set an NCAA scoring record. He led the nation in passing efficiency.

Particulars: 5-11/235, Jr.
High school: New Berlin (N.Y.) Milford Academy
Key stats: The Big Ten's top rusher set a school single-season record with 1,729 yards rushing, and he was only Football Bowl Subdivision (i.e., Division I-A) running back to run for more than 100 yards in each game. The last Big Ten back to run for more than 100 yards in each league game was Curtis Enis in 1997.

Particulars: 5-8/190, Soph.
High school: Tyler (Texas) John Tyler
Key stats: Hunter rushed for 1,518 yards and 14 touchdowns on 228 carries. He averaged 6.7 yards per rush and ranked sixth in the nation with 126.5 yards per game. He had nine 100-yard games this season.

Particulars: 6-3/214, Soph.
High school: Dallas Carter
Key stats: Crabtree caught 93 passes for 1,135 yards and 18 touchdowns. He tied for second in the nation in touchdown catches. Crabtree had a pair of three-touchdown games and reeled off four consecutive two-touchdown games midway through the season.

Particulars: 6-1/200, Soph.
High school: Kirkwood (Mo.) High
Key stats: Maclin caught 95 passes for 1,221 yards and 12 touchdowns. He also ran for 250 yards and two touchdowns on 35 carries, and he returned a kickoff for a touchdown. Maclin led the nation with 203.5 all-purpose yards per game.

Particulars: 6-6/261, Jr.
High school: Ardmore (Okla.) High
Key stats: Gresham caught 58 passes for 888 yards and 12 touchdowns. He had four two-touchdown games and tied for the NCAA lead for touchdown catches by a tight end.

Particulars: 6-5/318, Sr.
High school: Memphis (Tenn.) Briarcrest Christian
Key stats: This four-year starter and likely first-round pick is one of three finalists for the Outland Trophy, which goes each year to the nation's top interior lineman. Oher helped Ole Miss rank third in the SEC in rushing while allowing the fourth-fewest sacks in the league.

Particulars: 6-4/330, Jr.
High school: Birmingham (Ala.) Huffman
Key stats: This likely first-round pick helped Alabama rank second in the SEC and 23rd in the nation with 196.5 rushing yards per game. Smith is a finalist for the Lombardi Award given to the nation's top lineman or linebacker and the Outland Trophy that goes to the nation's best interior lineman.

Particulars: 6-5/305, Sr.
High school: Omaha (Neb.) Millard North
Key stats: This two-year starter's blocking helped make Shonn Greene a first-team All-American. The Hawkeyes averaged 189.3 yards per game rushing, thanks in part to the efforts of Olsen.

Particulars: 6-5/335, Sr.
High school: Atlanta Washington
Key stats: Robinson helped lead an exceptional line that allowed Oklahoma to set an NCAA scoring record. The Sooners allowed the fourth-fewest sacks in the nation and averaged 4.8 yards per carry.

Particulars: 6-4/316, Sr.
High school: Santa Barbara (Calif.) San Marcos
Key stats: The Lombardi Award semifinalist and Rimington Trophy finalist was the top lineman for an offense that averaged 33.3 points per game. His blocking helped California running back Jahvid Best average more than 8 yards per carry.

Particulars: 5-11/195, Jr.
High school: Virginia Beach (Va.) Landstown
Key stats: This do-everything player scored at least one touchdown in every game he played this season. Harvin scored 16 touchdowns on just 96 plays from scrimmage. He had 35 catches for 595 yards and seven touchdowns. Harvin also carried the ball 61 times for 543 yards and nine touchdowns.

Particulars: 6-2/248, Jr.
High school: Sugar Land (Texas) Stephen F. Austin
Key stats: Hughes led the nation with 14 sacks and shared the NCAA lead with six forced fumbles. He also compiled 30 solos, 18 assists, 18.5 tackles for loss and two interceptions. Hughes recorded four sacks in a 32-7 rout of previously unbeaten BYU.

Particulars: 6-4/260, Sr.
High school: Houston Lamar
Key stats: Orakpo collected 28 solos, eight assists, 15.5 tackles for loss, 10.5 sacks and four forced fumbles despite struggling with a knee injury late in the season that caused him to miss one game and most of another. He won the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, which goes to the nation's top defensive player.

Particulars: 6-5/365, Jr.
High school: Fort Myers (Fla.) Riverdale
Key stats: Cody recorded seven solo tackles, 16 assists, 4.5 tackles for loss and two fumble recoveries. Cody's physical presence made it impossible for Alabama opponents to run between the tackles and helped the Crimson Tide rank second in the nation in rushing defense.

Particulars: 6-2/260 Sr.
High school: Eureka (Calif.) High
Key stats: Maualuga posted a team-high 73 tackles and two interceptions, including one returned for a touchdown. He was a finalist for the Lombardi, Butkus, Bednarik and Nagurski awards.

Particulars: 6-3/245, Jr.
High school: Shelby (N.C.) Crest
Key stats: Spikes recorded 48 solos, 39 assists, eight tackles for loss, two sacks and four interceptions. He led all SEC linebackers in interceptions and scored on interception returns against LSU and South Carolina.

Particulars: 6-1/201, Sr.
High school: Piscataway (N.J.) High
Key stats: Jenkins had three picks and nine pass breakups. The three-year starter was the best player in a secondary that helped the Buckeyes finish 11th in the nation in pass efficiency defense.

Particulars: 5-10/182, Jr.
High school: Spartanburg (S.C.) Broome
Key stats: Moore had 28 solos, 26 assists, 4.5 tackles for loss, six interceptions and six pass breakups. He ranked fifth in the nation in interceptions. On offense, Moore caught two touchdown passes and ran for 73 yards on eight carries. He also ranked 14th in the nation in punt returns.

Particulars: 5-11/195, Soph.
High school: Fairburn (Ga.) Creekside
Key stats: Berry shared the NCAA lead with seven interceptions and also recorded 44 solos, 28 assists, 8.5 tackles for loss, three sacks and six pass breakups. He scored on interception returns against Mississippi State and Vanderbilt.

Particulars: 6-0/186, Sr
High school: Sulligent (Ala.) High
Key stats: Johnson had 55 solos, 27 assists, five tackles for loss, one sack, five interceptions, 11 pass breakups, one forced fumble and a fumble recovery. He picked off three passes in an overtime victory over LSU. He scored on interception returns against LSU and Arkansas State.

Particulars: 6-1/192, Sr.
High school: Gonzalez (Fla.) Tate
Key stats: Gano went 24-of-26 on field-goal attempts, including 5-for-7 from at least 50 yards. His only misses came from 50 and 52 yards. Gano, who made 18 consecutive field goals during one stretch, also punted for the Seminoles.

Particulars: 6-1/220
High school: Cincinnati McNicholas
Key stats: Huber was a big-time weapon for the Bearcats. He averaged 44.9 yards per punt and helped Cincinnati lead the nation in net punting. Only two of his 56 punts were touchbacks. He won the 2007 Ray Guy Award as the nation's best punter.

Particulars: 5-7/186, Jr.
High school: St. Augustine (Fla.) High
Key stats: James returned 36 punts for 509 yards (14.1 average) and two touchdowns. He scored on punt returns against Hawaii and Tennessee. He also returned 29 kickoffs for 687 yards (23.7 average).

Particulars: 6-1/190, Sr.
High school: Bunnell (Fla.) Flagler Palm Coast
Key stats: He was one of the nation's top-10 return men at 28 yards per return. He returned two kickoffs for touchdowns, one against Oklahoma and one against West Virginia.